Mommy Come Home: Stay at Home Mom Schedule

Welcome back!

Amy over at The Finer Things in Life is doing a series on Mommy Come Home, about the choice to be a stay at home mom.  How it can be a leap of faith, how it requires certain sacrifices, some getting used to and some real life changes.  She was looking for someone to write a guest post on how to be a productive stay at home mom.  I’m not always as productive as I want to be, but I pride myself on being organized and scheduled.

Here’s my story:

I became a stay at home mom at the birth of my second child.  I had only worked part time before, but this was still a huge leap of faith for us and I was also “leaping” into full time ministry as a Christian writer & speaker.  Later I would become a freelance writer as well and begin several online business ventures.  Therefore being productive is a must.  Most everyone I know asks me “How do you do everything that you do?”

Scheduling, routines and being organized are three of my answers, the other two are prayer and faith.  These things play an equal role in my productivity.  My day must start with prayer or I feel it when I don’t.  I must also rely on my faith or nothing will go right.

Scheduling, routines and organization are the other end of the spectrum that balance it all out.  It took me quite some time to determine a schedule that “worked” for me and my family.  This schedule also changes during certain times of the year such as “summer” or “Christmas vacation”, and I must be flexible enough to realize that.  Two keys to a workable schedule are “trial and error” scheduling until you get one just right that works for you, and “being willing to be flexible”.

Second, routines, such as my morning routine of:

• getting up,
• doing my Quiet time with God,
• eating breakfast,
• cleaning kitchen
• everyone taking baths and showers,
• and working a committed 1.5 hrs on my businesses.

The routine helps me to “function” and get things done.  My afternoon routine involves housework, time with the kids and a bit more work time.

Finally, staying organized is another key to productivity, such as:

• having a system for bill paying,
• a system for menu planning,
• a set grocery day,

and other similar things is how I am able to manage a household, a ministry, and a few online businesses.

The decision to be a stay at home mom is one that I will never regret taking, no matter how hard I must work to make it all work.  Even though you’re a stay at home mom doesn’t mean you can’t have a schedule.  It can make you feel much more productive and in control.

Big Old Brain Dump

Ever since yesterday when I finally took the “leap of faith” that now when I look back on it, I believe God began calling me to almost a year ago, I began to have a whirlwind of ideas and thoughts take over my mind.  I tell you it was amazing.  I had totally lost my creativity and just a few hours before was desperate to think straight.  But after I gave it all up and let go and “let GOD”.  Wow!  He showed up in a big way.

Then, last night, the weather was bad so I was forced to turn off the computer.  I know, I should do it more often anyway, but last night due to the weather off it went and it stayed off until this morning!  So, during that time I wrote 3-4 pages in my prayer journal and read my Bible and prayed.  Now, I’m a whirlwind of thoughts, ideas and creativity, so I had to do a big old brain dump this afternoon.  I just finished and I have three pages of a small index pad full. 

This is my guide and plan for the next few weeks.  I’m hoping to accomplish everything over the next few months.  I am trying desperately to not set myself up for failure.  I am trying to not overschedule myself, as this is how I got to the point of burnout in the first place.  I need a new schedule but I”m not sure yet what it should be.  For other WAHMs out there I’d love to know what schedule works for you.

Photo credit: BoboRashi

How I Have Time for Couponing

I have heard it 1000 times.  “I don’t have time for couponing.”  That is what many people say and honestly I could say the same thing.  With a 9 month old, a 2 year old, a 5 year old and working from home I don’t really have “time” either.  But I believe that anything that saves me time or money is worth doing.  Couponing saves me money and since I’ve gotten serious about it, for approximately two months now, I have seen even bigger savings than ever.  To date since March 1, 2009 I have saved $226.  That’s a big savings amount to me.

So, just how do I have time for couponing?  Well, over the past two months I’ve developed some strategies.  I enjoy routine and I like to have a plan.  I believe that with a plan you can accomplish just about anything.  So, first I started reading more couponing or frugal blogs.  I already had a few favorites but quickly found more.  I read:

Deal Seeking Mom

The Centisble Sawyer

$5 Dollar Dinners

Bargain Briana

Then in addition to reading some great frugal blogs I also hang out and find great coupons and deals over at A Full Cup.com ‘the forum site for couponers.  I even became a supporting member because of how much the place had truly helped me.

Finally, at the advice of many of the bloggers and the folks on the forums I created for myself a coupon binder.  This is a huge lifesaver.  Yes, it took me some time to develop mine and some time to put it together as well as time each week to add the coupons, but the organization it provides is priceless.

I do clip coupons and I clip weekly.  I have been getting the paper for several weeks now and will clip the coupons from there.  I usually clip them on Saturday.  I also print coupons as I see some that I need when I’m reading the blogs that I read many times they will point out the high value printables and I”ll print them and stack them with my inserts to clip at my “clipping time”.  I have developed the routine of clipping at one set time.  Last weekend I clipped on Saturday morning.  This week we had a trip out of town to the doctor for my son and I took the coupons with me and clipped on the ride down there as my husband was driving.  My husband was super impressed with how many coupons I had after clipping through just one ALL YOU magazine that I had picked up at Walmart on Thursday.  I am getting a subscription to all you from a Southern Living rep, Lori, because it is a significant discount.  $17.99 for 2 years. I normally pay about $2.49 in Walmart each month for the magazine.

Stay tuned for another post on “How I Plan to Use my Coupons Each Week”.  I’d love to hear how you fit couponing into your busy schedule.

photo credit: lvngwell

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